LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A man who was attempting to set off a homemade cannon in Pulaski County blew off his hand and suffered burns when the explosive detonated prematurely.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department said Gregory Carlson, 46, of Paron was at a residence off Kanis Road near Little Rock on Tuesday evening when the cannon misfired.

Deputies and EMTs met Carlson nearby and an ambulance took him to a hospital. Deputies who went to the residence found burned flesh, a finger and a blood trail, along with a homemade 18-inch-long mortar tube.

Carlson had told deputies he was loading the cannon when it went off unexpectedly.

The deputies notified the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The matter is under investigation and there was no indication whether Carlson was cited.